A Sharia Court in Kano has dissolved the 16-year-old marriage between Asiya Balaraba Ganduje and her husband Inuwa Uba.
A judgment delivered by the Judge of the Upper Sharia Court, Abdullahi Halliru, stated that the marriage was dissolved through Khul’i (divorce by Islamic means).
“The conditions the respondent earlier raised before the court should be based on Islamic Sunnah on Khul’i.”
Mr Halliru ordered the plaintiff, who is the daughter to the incumbent Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to return N50,000 paid as dowry by the respondent.
“Khul’i is strictly based on returning the dowry given to a woman, the condition should not affect her in anyway especially in giving out her wealth.”
The counsel to the petitioner, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nassarawa, told the court that his client insisted on returning the N50,000 bride price received from her husband in exchange for divorce.
The petitioner was in court seeking the dissolution of her marriage through Islamic means (Khul’i), saying she was tired and fed up with her husband.
“Every woman who is living under strange conditions has a right under Islamic law to approach the court and seek for her marriage to be dissolved with the condition to return the dowry,” the petitioner said.
Counsel to the respondent, Umar I. Umar, said the issue was beyond the payment of N50,000 dowry.
“The respondent has four kids with the plaintiff, but all efforts to reconcile them proved abortive,” Mr Umar said.
Mr Uba gave two conditions to allow the divorce; that the plaintiff should return his credentials, house certificates, cars and relinquish her rights in their joint rice company.
